Mets Mourn Passing Of Legendary Left-Hander From 1969 Champs

The New York Mets lost one of their legends on Sunday, as the team announced the passing fo left-hander Jerry Kooman on Sunday at the age of 83. The former Met has struggled with multiple health issues in recent years, and he was living in Osceola, Wis.

Koosman is a two-time All-Star who spent 12 of his 19 big-league seasons with New York, and his trademark calling card was his feisty, competitive nature along with his ability to come through in big games.

He was the winning pitcher in Game 2 of the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles before throwing the complete game in Game 5 that clinched the title for the team known as the Miracle Mets. The final out was a fly out by Baltimore’s Davey Johnson, who would later manage the Mets to a World Series title in 1986, the second and last time they won the title.

The Mets came from out of nowhere to win that year. In 1968, even as Koosman and Tom Seaver flourished at the front of New York’s rotation, the Mets finished 73-89, 24 games back of the National League pennant. That didn’t inspire much optimism heading into 1969, which  led to the “Miracle Mets” moniker that’s been a rallying cry for Mets fans ever since. 

The club steamrolled through October. Koosman was 17–9 with a 2.28 ERA and 180 strikeouts that season. Outfielder Ron Swoboda referred to Koosman as their “protector” whenever Mets hitters where thrown at, and the Mets retired his number 36 in 2021. 

Koosman grew up on a farm in Appleton, Minn., but he would to on to finished as the National League Cy Young Award runner-up behind Randy Jones in 1976. He also pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, making his final start for the Phillies in 1985 when he was 42.

The left-hander’s life did take a darker turn back in 2009, as he pled guilty to a charge of tax evasion and spent six months in prison. He told investigators he had researched federal tax laws an felt they did not apply to him, per Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. 

But Koosman was celebrated and venerated by Mets fans in recent years, especially as his health began to fail. Fellow pitcher Tom Seaver was the marquee player and the ace of the staff, but Koosman’s ability to pitch well in clutch games will be remembered forever by the franchise and its fans.